Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 27th, 2004
Garfield has been hunting lasagna, out-witting his clueless owner Jon, and frolicking with his intellectually challenged partner in crime, Odie since 1978. While the recent big screen release failed to capture the attention of the public, the animated series from 1988 did everything that the movie failed to do. It made the viewers laugh. The animated series was cleverly written, very witty and in a way similar to the Simpsons, had the ability to make both kids and adults laugh.
Garfield first appeared on T... in a special in 1982. He make a few other special appearances but in 1998 he was granted a weekly Saturday morning cartoon. But it wasn’t just Garfield, Odie and Jon that appeared. Each episode was divided into 3 segments: 2 with Garfield and one with the characters from U.S. Acres in “Orson’s Farm” (another albeit less famous creation by Garfield creator Jim Davis) – Orson the pig who is the leader of the group of farm animals, Wade, and anxiety ridden duck who wears an inflatable ring at all times in case he actually encounters water, Roy, an entitled rooster, Lanolin, a smart sheep, Booker, a baby chick who mainly focuses on eating worms, and Sheldon, another chick who never quite came out of his shell (Get it? “Shell-don”). The U.S. Acres stuff wasn’t too bad but paled in comparison to everyone’s favorite fat cat.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 27th, 2004
The Second Season of Starsky and Hutch is often considered its best by long time fans of the show. Even Paul Michael Glaser expressed his feelings that the show peaked in the second year. By now the characters were well honed and the stories less 70’s cliché and tighter. The show often used the 2 parter now to tell more elaborate tales. The bad guys were meaner. The guys spend time undercover a bit this year, which added a tremendous amount of variety to what was really a formula show in the first year. That all impo...tant character chemistry was rock solid. Season Two of Starsky and Hutch is a great example of the better 70’s cop show.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 22nd, 2004
It’s perhaps a sad commentary on the level of political correctness that Archie Bunker could never have graced network primetime in 2004. Archie was ignorant and an incredibly vocal bigot. Archie was an equal opportunity bigot. He didn’t just hate certain minorities … he hated everybody who wasn’t white blue collar protestant. Carroll O’Connor, who brilliantly portrayed Archie, was without a doubt one of the best actors to grace a network sitcom. Just watch his eyes and you’ll understand. All in the Family holds a re...ord for spin-off series. The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, and Archie Bunker’s Place are just a few of the highly successful shows that owe their roots to All In The Family. Rob Reiner, Meathead, has since followed in his father Carl Reiner’s footsteps as a highly acclaimed producer.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 11th, 2004
Season three of Voyager was the most exciting so far. This is the year Q, one of Star Trek’s most beloved characters, adds Janeway to his list of captains to pester. The powerful Borg would also enter Voyager’s universe in Season three. The year would end with a cliffhanger that also introduces 7 of 9 to the cast. This was Kes’s final year. There’s no question that the show’s dynamics went from stun to kill. Episodes became a bit more standalone. The long overdone Kazon arc would be abandoned for more compelling dram.... George Takei appeared in a Voyager/Star Trek VI crossover episode that puts Tuvok on Sulu’s ship during the events of the final Original Cast film.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on July 11th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on July 8th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on July 6th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 6th, 2004
South Park had peaked with Season 3. The film was a huge hit and some of the best stuff came out that year. Season 4 would become a more up and down year. It’s obvious that the Stone and Parker team decided to push the envelope a bit further. This is also the year we got wheelchair bound Timmy. I liked Timmy at first, but he just gets old fast. One of the highlights of this season is the last episode. Another Mr. Hanky Christmas episode has the boys creating a special computer Christmas card called “The Spirit of Chr...stmas” this episode mirrors the actual start of Stone and Parker. I would have liked to have seen the entire original show at least as an extra here.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 30th, 2004
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 27th, 2004
The USA Network series The Dead Zone is based very loosely on the early Stephen King novel or the film with Martin Sheen. Johnny still goes into a coma and comes out with psychic abilities. He even meets the infamous Senate candidate destined to destroy the world. The original tale and this surprising series ends there. This show is more about Johnny using his abilities for good whenever he can. One of the best episodes of the series, “Zion”, actually shows us why this show has varied from the original story. ...e find out that it was meeting Bruce, a physical therapist who was not in the original story, that kept him from the self-destructive path King had outlined for him.
Anthony Michael-Hall’s performance is one that has to grow on you. I have to admit I was a little put off the first couple of episodes from season one. Something about his portrayal does tend to rope you in. These episodes are light years ahead of anything from Season One.
